gallbladder

American  

[gawl-blad-er] / ˈgɔlˌblæd ər /

Or gall bladder

noun

Anatomy.

gallbladders plural

1. a pear-shaped, muscular sac attached to the undersurface of the right lobe of the liver, in which bile is stored and concentrated.

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gallbladder Scientific  

/ gôl′blăd′ər /

1. A small, pear-shaped muscular sac in most vertebrates in which bile is stored. The gallbladder is located beneath the liver and secretes bile into the duodenum of the small intestine.

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gallbladder Cultural  

1. A small, muscular sac located under the liver. Bile is stored in the gallbladder until it is needed by the small intestine for digestion. (See digestive system.)

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• gallbladders
  plural

Etymology

Origin of gallbladder

First recorded in 1670–80; gall ¹ + bladder

Explanation

Your gallbladder is an organ in your body that helps you digest fat. The gallbladder is situated just underneath the liver, on the right side of the body. Your gallbladder aids in digestion by storing the bile your liver produces and releasing it into your small intestine every time you eat food. Bile is a liquid that helps break down the fat you eat. When someone has a problem with their gallbladder (like a tendency to get painful, hardened masses called gallstones), they sometimes have surgery to remove the organ. You can live without a gallbladder, although it's harder to digest fatty food without one.

Example Sentences

I recently spent three days in the hospital to have my gallbladder removed.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 24, 2026

You have enough to deal with recovering from gallbladder surgery, and this may feel like a bigger deal at the moment.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 24, 2026

Earlier studies have shown that low oxygen levels can alter bile acids, substances produced by the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and released into the intestines to help digest fats.

From Science Daily • Jun. 9, 2026

Tuft cells are found in several parts of the body, including the airways, gallbladder, and reproductive system, not just the gut.

From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2026

There followed, of course, the usual gallbladder, spleen, and kidney operations.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols